Junkanoo Committee in search of judges

With the 2018 New Year’s Day Junkanoo Parade set for Downtown fast approaching, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Committee have embarked upon “an all out campaign” to find judges.

According to the committee’s co-chair, Mark Gardiner, the rich tradition of Junkanoo is strapped with a competitive spirit.

“Group members invest far more than they earn and the prize money is secondary to bragging rights,” Gardiner noted.

Pleading his case for residents over 18-years-old to sign up as judges, Gardiner said, “the competition is keen and we need interested residents to step up.”
Former and first timers are invited to fill out forms at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s office, Regent Centre – Monday, October 16 from 5.30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Local Culture head, Monique Leary, wants the general public to know that they are looking for potential judges, with diverse backgrounds and those persons who know little or nothing about Junkanoo need not fear, training sessions will be made available.

Leary said that there will be events other than the big New Year’s Day showdown and judges will always be needed. “This lends the perfect opportunity to get persons with a level of focus and discipline off the sidelines and deeply entrenched in what is uniquely Bahamian culture, Junkanoo.”

The recruitment drive for judges will run over the next few weeks, but the ministry and committee members are hoping for an early and strong response come Monday.